How to Compare Siding Quotes

You have two or three siding quotes and the totals are thousands of dollars apart. The totals are not the problem — the scopes are. The only fair way to compare siding quotes in South Jersey is line by line: is tear-off included, what is the unit price for rotted sheathing, whose housewrap, is every window flashed, and is the warranty in writing? This page gives you the 15-line checklist we use ourselves, the red flags to watch for, and a standing offer: send us any quote and we will review it free.

The 15-line comparison checklist

Print this table. Put Quote A, Quote B and Quote C across the top, and make every bidder answer every line in writing. A blank line is an answer too — it means “not included.”

#	Line item	What a good answer looks like	Quote A	Quote B	Quote C
1	NJ HIC registration number	A real 13VH number you can verify with the state VERIFY format with NJ DCA
2	Insurance certificate	General liability certificate sent to you by the insurer, not just “fully insured”
3	Tear-off included	Removal of old siding, per-square price stated VERIFY: SJCC price book v1
4	Sheathing repair unit price	A per-sheet price for rotted sheathing (the wood panels under the siding), approved by you in writing before use
5	Housewrap brand	A named water-resistive barrier (WRB) brand and product line, not “tyvek-type”
6	Flashing at each opening	Sill, jamb and head flashing sequence at every window and door, listed by name
7	Kickout flashing	Named specifically wherever a roofline meets a wall — the small diverter that keeps roof water out of your wall
8	Mounting blocks and penetrations	Blocks at lights, faucets, vents and outlets listed, not caulked-over gaps
9	Trim scope	Exactly what trim is replaced, wrapped or reused — window casing, corners, frieze boards
10	Soffit and fascia, per LF	Linear-foot pricing stated, and rot repaired before any wrapping VERIFY: SJCC price book v1
11	Gutters	Included or explicitly excluded; downspout count if included
12	Permits	Who pulls the permit where required, and the fee handling VERIFY per town construction office
13	Cleanup and magnet sweep	Daily cleanup plus a final magnetic sweep for nails, in writing
14	Disposal	Dumpster and haul-away included, not “homeowner disposes”
15	Payment schedule and workmanship warranty term	Milestones tied to work completed (never large up-front), and a stated workmanship warranty term in writing VERIFY: SJCC warranty document

The same 15 lines appear as the 2-page “Before You Sign” checklist inside our free 16-page guide.

Red flags to watch for

None of these prove a contractor is dishonest. But each one means you should slow down and ask more questions before signing anything.

• No NJ HIC registration number on the quote, truck or contract. Home improvement contractors in New Jersey must be registered VERIFY with NJ Division of Consumer Affairs. You can check a registration by calling 1-800-242-5846.
• A vague scope. “Reside house — $X” tells you nothing about tear-off, wrap, flashing or trim. Vague quotes become expensive change orders.
• Huge “today only” discounts. A price that drops by thousands if you sign before the salesperson leaves was never the real price. We do not do fake discounts, and you should not reward them.
• No unit price for rot. If a quote is silent on what rotted sheathing costs to replace, you are signing a blank check for the most common surprise in this trade.
• Refusing to put the warranty in writing. A warranty you cannot read before you sign is not a warranty. Ask for the product warranty and the workmanship warranty as documents.
• A big deposit before materials arrive. Payments should follow completed milestones. New Jersey law also gives you a 3-business-day right to cancel a home improvement contract signed at your home VERIFY current NJ consumer fraud act rules with counsel.
• No physical way to reach them after the job. A local phone, a real company name and a registration number are how you find someone in year three of a workmanship warranty.

Send us your other quote — we will review it free

Here is the standing offer: email or bring us any siding quote you have received, and we will walk through it line by line against this checklist. We will tell you what is included, what is missing, and what questions to ask — even if you never hire us. Why? Because homeowners who understand scope hire contractors who do the hidden work. That is the business we are in.

Send it to Jim@southjerseyconstruction.biz or mention it when you book your free estimate. If you want to understand what goes into an honest number first, see our siding cost page and our 7-step process.